Will your news blog, “The Front Page” be eligible for state funds? Is this news site providing an alternate to The Post-Star and stealing readers from The Post-Star? In other words, are you part of the problem?
One local editor remarked how his paper will publish most things, even harmful lies, believing that the readers are responsible for making their own decisions. But the ability of readers to intelligently decide is impaired when their sources of information are purveyors of untruths and fear mongering, when their teachers are gagged and their books are banned, and when their churchs are founts of meanness and hypocracy. Freedom of press exists for the discovery and disclosure of lies and corruption, particularly in government. Free an unintimidated investigative reporters are its soldiers and guardians. We do not have investigative reporters in the North Country. We have Elise Stephanik, an Orban wannabe.
I read with much interest your article regarding freedom of the press and your concerns about gov't control of the press/free speech. Specifically, I draw attention to this comment by you:
"This is how we lose our democracy. Not with dramatic Jan. 6-like riots, but because of a gradual campaign of indoctrination by media sanctioned and controlled by the political party in power."
This has been shown to be the case with the current administration with DOJ targeting parents that voiced their concerns at school board meetings, recent reporting that law enforcement was spying on church members, gov't collusion with social media to shut down narratives during the pandemic.
More needs to be done to ensure free speech in ALL FORUMS.
Chilling, if excellent column. Madeleine Albright wrote a little book called Fascism, A Warning. She outlines the game plan for making a democracy disappear and replacing it with authoritarianism and dictatorship. It's always the same ...... first, you commandeer the press. Right on, Ken!
You see and capture the history of the "loss of a free press" very well. Hungary's Orban''s Hungary began as a democracy...it was gradual, this takeover. And the media (and big money) was a big part--because propaganda plays a big part in influencing what we think we think, or know, or believe. Thousands of our local newspapers have been taken over by conglomerates, recently the Baltimore Sun.-Jim Hightower writes about that incredible loss, over 2000 local newspapers lost. . The one who wants power declaring free press flawed, free elections rigged...One can hear the repeated script on Fox and other right wing media--the same line about the increase in crime (when it has actually decreased), the terrible economy (when it is very resilient, lower unemployment, wages rising). In high education the law passed in different states forbidding programs of diversity and inclusion and have forbidden the teaching of "critical race theory" which, is really American History. Some states in the past have actually forbidden mentioning the climate crisis--and financial institutions have been forbidden to include "green energy" as part of their platform of investment strategy....) It is obvious that if we can't learn, know, hear..we are ignorant. And created fears creates more fear, and hatred. Hitler's Goebbels, the Nazi propagandist showed the power of the repeated lie that is experienced as true...If you repeat something enough people believe. He said you could make someone believe that a circle is really a square. I believe that when I hear what Stefanik and other Maga say. Maga have clearly understood that...look at what Stefanik, Mace...and others say, they .have learned from Organ and Putin and Hitler the Fascist script...and newspapers/the media play a central role. Thank you for tracing the danger...because clearly it could happen here...and is...
Which lists 14 characteristics of fascist regimes:
1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.
3. Identification of enemies/scape-goats as a unifying cause. The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and0 disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.4. The supremacy of the military/ avid militarism. Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.
5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.
6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.
7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.
9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.
14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.
A great piece! I would want this piece reprinted at least once a week til Hell freezes over. This more accurately describes the erosion in our country more than anything else. Kudos!
This alarming article (You can't. even imagine...)and this area to post provides your readers with a common comment space as we each consider how to organize for the preservation of our democracy in light of the high stakes of the Nov. 2024 election and what specific actions to Get Out the Vote (GOTV) can be taken ... be it to write letters and postcards to voters in swing states as early as April, phone or text banking , donating.. Useful venues for participating include Vote Forward, Gaslitnationpod and Indivisible.
OMG the bottom line to me, whether Liberal or Conservative, is that BOTH deserve to be heard and respected as much as possible, sooo when you take one away YOU ARE WRONG - in my book of Fair Play in any arena. Both sides deserve to be heard and respected as much as humanly possible. Taking one away is not the way to do anything, in politics, religion or any respected arena, so if you do it you will not merit any respect from me. Carl Ross.
Perhaps Cambridge should listen to the students and get on with more important things. This whole thing has been a ridiculous waste of time and energy.
Will your news blog, “The Front Page” be eligible for state funds? Is this news site providing an alternate to The Post-Star and stealing readers from The Post-Star? In other words, are you part of the problem?
I think you are absolutely right Ken.
One local editor remarked how his paper will publish most things, even harmful lies, believing that the readers are responsible for making their own decisions. But the ability of readers to intelligently decide is impaired when their sources of information are purveyors of untruths and fear mongering, when their teachers are gagged and their books are banned, and when their churchs are founts of meanness and hypocracy. Freedom of press exists for the discovery and disclosure of lies and corruption, particularly in government. Free an unintimidated investigative reporters are its soldiers and guardians. We do not have investigative reporters in the North Country. We have Elise Stephanik, an Orban wannabe.
Ken,
I read with much interest your article regarding freedom of the press and your concerns about gov't control of the press/free speech. Specifically, I draw attention to this comment by you:
"This is how we lose our democracy. Not with dramatic Jan. 6-like riots, but because of a gradual campaign of indoctrination by media sanctioned and controlled by the political party in power."
This has been shown to be the case with the current administration with DOJ targeting parents that voiced their concerns at school board meetings, recent reporting that law enforcement was spying on church members, gov't collusion with social media to shut down narratives during the pandemic.
More needs to be done to ensure free speech in ALL FORUMS.
It has to some degree already happened.
Example: The uproar by NBC "journalists" at the recent hiring of a different voice. I listened to the raw emotion just yesterday.
Might also the recent push to subsidize also lead to the same? I think so.
You are right, of course, Ken. I only hope that the advent of the Internet will level the playing field. I know. Wishful thinking.
Chilling, if excellent column. Madeleine Albright wrote a little book called Fascism, A Warning. She outlines the game plan for making a democracy disappear and replacing it with authoritarianism and dictatorship. It's always the same ...... first, you commandeer the press. Right on, Ken!
You see and capture the history of the "loss of a free press" very well. Hungary's Orban''s Hungary began as a democracy...it was gradual, this takeover. And the media (and big money) was a big part--because propaganda plays a big part in influencing what we think we think, or know, or believe. Thousands of our local newspapers have been taken over by conglomerates, recently the Baltimore Sun.-Jim Hightower writes about that incredible loss, over 2000 local newspapers lost. . The one who wants power declaring free press flawed, free elections rigged...One can hear the repeated script on Fox and other right wing media--the same line about the increase in crime (when it has actually decreased), the terrible economy (when it is very resilient, lower unemployment, wages rising). In high education the law passed in different states forbidding programs of diversity and inclusion and have forbidden the teaching of "critical race theory" which, is really American History. Some states in the past have actually forbidden mentioning the climate crisis--and financial institutions have been forbidden to include "green energy" as part of their platform of investment strategy....) It is obvious that if we can't learn, know, hear..we are ignorant. And created fears creates more fear, and hatred. Hitler's Goebbels, the Nazi propagandist showed the power of the repeated lie that is experienced as true...If you repeat something enough people believe. He said you could make someone believe that a circle is really a square. I believe that when I hear what Stefanik and other Maga say. Maga have clearly understood that...look at what Stefanik, Mace...and others say, they .have learned from Organ and Putin and Hitler the Fascist script...and newspapers/the media play a central role. Thank you for tracing the danger...because clearly it could happen here...and is...
One of the signs of fascism.
See "Fascism Anyone?" by Lawrence Britt, originally published here:
https://secularhumanism.org/2003/03/fascism-anyone/
Which lists 14 characteristics of fascist regimes:
1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.
3. Identification of enemies/scape-goats as a unifying cause. The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and0 disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.4. The supremacy of the military/ avid militarism. Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.
5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.
6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.
7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.
9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.
14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.
A great piece! I would want this piece reprinted at least once a week til Hell freezes over. This more accurately describes the erosion in our country more than anything else. Kudos!
Stefanik made the right vote.
But Heather Cox Richardson made a point in her Substack today that describes Stefanik to a “T”:
“Trump Republicans willing to overthrow American democracy so long as it kept them in power”.
Even though Ronna McDaniel also fit the description, she lost her power. Stefanik next?
Cambridge and Common Sense are juxtaposing ideas.
This alarming article (You can't. even imagine...)and this area to post provides your readers with a common comment space as we each consider how to organize for the preservation of our democracy in light of the high stakes of the Nov. 2024 election and what specific actions to Get Out the Vote (GOTV) can be taken ... be it to write letters and postcards to voters in swing states as early as April, phone or text banking , donating.. Useful venues for participating include Vote Forward, Gaslitnationpod and Indivisible.
OMG the bottom line to me, whether Liberal or Conservative, is that BOTH deserve to be heard and respected as much as possible, sooo when you take one away YOU ARE WRONG - in my book of Fair Play in any arena. Both sides deserve to be heard and respected as much as humanly possible. Taking one away is not the way to do anything, in politics, religion or any respected arena, so if you do it you will not merit any respect from me. Carl Ross.
Perhaps Cambridge should listen to the students and get on with more important things. This whole thing has been a ridiculous waste of time and energy.
Disagree. We lose our democracy in in our school system(s). Stupid (not educated) people are easily dominated.